]]>If you trip to Hà Nội, you want to shopping, do not forget check out the 6 best shopping streets in Hanoi, Vietnam.

1- Hang Non Street, Hang Gai Ward

Hang Non Street, Hang Gai Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Today, mostly they sold many items of clothing import from Guangzhou City, China, and the Republic of Korea. All items of clothing at stores in Hang Non Street have a prize from VND200.000 – 300.000.

2 -Hue Street, Hang Bai Ward

Hue Street, Hang Bai Ward, Hoan Kiem District is the one where have many fashion shops. In here, you can buy many items of clothing from Guangzhou City, China, and Thailand.

3 – Dinh Liet Street

Dinh Liet Street is best known as the items are made from wool.

4 – Quan Thanh Street

Quan Thanh Street also is best known for selling the great selection of jackets in good sizes. Prices for good quality North Face etc ranged from VND600.000 to around 950.000. Full marks for variety in sizes, colors, and styles.

5 – Nui Truc Street

Nui Truc Street is renowned for sold Hip Hop style items. If you want to have a T-shirt with XXL size or one modern snapback and cool sneakers… you can’t miss all items in Nui Truc Street.

6 – Hanoi night market

Hanoi night market, also known as Dong Xuan night market, is weakly held on weekend evenings in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. It’s a very interesting place that all visitors should not miss if they have a chance to travel to the capital city.

]]>http://welcome2hanoi.com/2017/12/top-6-shopping-streets-hanoi/feed/0Hanoi nightlife set to get an extensionhttp://welcome2hanoi.com/2017/12/hanoi-nightlife-set-get-extension/
http://welcome2hanoi.com/2017/12/hanoi-nightlife-set-get-extension/#respondFri, 01 Dec 2017 07:12:03 +0000http://welcome2hanoi.com/?p=1155The People’s Committee of HoanKiem district has prepared a draft decree on allowing businesses in the Old Quarter, around Hoan Kiem Lake (or the Lake of Returned Sword) and some surrounding areas to stay open until 2am. The decree will contain conditions that organisations and businesses have to meet, as well as the scope and […]

]]>The People’s Committee of HoanKiem district has prepared a draft decree on allowing businesses in the Old Quarter, around Hoan Kiem Lake (or the Lake of Returned Sword) and some surrounding areas to stay open until 2am.

The decree will contain conditions that organisations and businesses have to meet, as well as the scope and duration of the pilot period.

The draft decree has received comments from the district’s Party Standing Committee and related departments, and will be submitted to the municipal administration for consideration soon.

A year after allowing restaurants, bars and other entertainment establishments in the HàNội Old Quarter to remain open late, the capital city has received positive feedback from residents and visitors.

Last September, the Ha Noi People’s Committee agreed to allow restaurants, bars and entertainment centres in the Old Quarter to stay open until 2am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays on a pilot basis.

]]>http://welcome2hanoi.com/2017/12/hanoi-nightlife-set-get-extension/feed/0The first Safari in Bao Son Paradise Park, Hanoihttp://welcome2hanoi.com/2017/08/first-safari-bao-son-paradise-park-hanoi/
http://welcome2hanoi.com/2017/08/first-safari-bao-son-paradise-park-hanoi/#respondWed, 02 Aug 2017 03:06:30 +0000http://welcome2hanoi.com/?p=1136Hanoians, especially children, will have an opportunity to enjoy the world of animals by rowing boats along the river in ‘Jungle Splash’, the first Safari in Bao Son Paradise Park, Hanoi.

]]>http://welcome2hanoi.com/2017/08/first-safari-bao-son-paradise-park-hanoi/feed/0Stunning photos of Hanoi street vendors from abovehttp://welcome2hanoi.com/2017/07/stunning-photos-hanoi-street-vendors/
http://welcome2hanoi.com/2017/07/stunning-photos-hanoi-street-vendors/#respondThu, 27 Jul 2017 01:41:21 +0000http://welcome2hanoi.com/?p=1131A Dutch photographer has spent a lot of time on a bridge in the middle of Hanoi, just to capture one of the most lovely moments of Hanoi street. Photographer Loes Heerink from the Netherland has live in Hanoi for 4 years. The street vendors here with plenty of things on their bikes, wandering around […]

]]>A Dutch photographer has spent a lot of time on a bridge in the middle of Hanoi, just to capture one of the most lovely moments of Hanoi street.

Photographer Loes Heerink from the Netherland has live in Hanoi for 4 years. The street vendors here with plenty of things on their bikes, wandering around every corner of the street has inspired the photographer.

Loes has spent a lot of time on the bridge or the balconies of some restaurants to get top-view photos. The top view allows us to see the beauty of symmetry, enhance the adorableness the vendor unintentionally created.

Besides photographing, Loes also took time chatting with some of the women, who usually have to wake at dawn, load up and carry a variety of products, from veggie to plastic flowers.

Loes has to wake up early waiting for the vendor to go by but she didn’t succeed all the time. There was a time she had to wait for straight up 5 hours but no photos could have been taken.

Weather conditions also have great effects on Loes’ photographing as well. Some of her pictures were taken right after a shower. The clouded sky created a sharper visual effect, from the dark gray of the concrete to the shape of the bike and the vendors.

“Try to imagine yourself waking up from 4 am, packing plenty of veggies and fruits on the bike and walk around the streets every day. You don’t know how lovely a scenery you have made!”, shared Loes. She also has an idea of writing a book about of the vendors on Hanoi street and their lives.

Loes is planning to come back to Vietnam to capture more stunning photographs like this on Hanoi street. She wants to have more than 100 distinguished photos of this topic. And so, she has been raising a fund and hopes to get support from other people.

]]>http://welcome2hanoi.com/2017/07/stunning-photos-hanoi-street-vendors/feed/06 most attracted bars in Hanoihttp://welcome2hanoi.com/2017/06/6-attracted-bars-hanoi/
http://welcome2hanoi.com/2017/06/6-attracted-bars-hanoi/#respondTue, 06 Jun 2017 03:14:26 +0000http://welcome2hanoi.com/?p=1116Tadioto, The Doors or +84 are great places for foreigners to come to exchange about art, listen to music and enjoy drinks when they are in Hanoi. Tadioto From abstract paintings, artistic decorations, cloth lanterns to steel bars, everything in Tadioto shows the sophistication of the owner, writer Nguyen Qui Duc. Mr. Duc painted, designed, […]

Tadioto

Mr. Duc painted, designed, edited and did more than that when Tadioto was born 10 years ago to make Tadioto become a place for his old and new friends gathering together. That’s why Tadioto attracts artists, writers, poets, musicians, photographers, architects, and diplomats.

Very few places in Hanoi have a diverse playlist as here. From Anouar Brahem to Ibrahim Maalouf, Alt-J to Le Cat Trong Ly, gentle music and moderate volume can create the right place for people to talk.

Tadioto sometimes holds poetry readings, live music, and art exhibitions. On the weekdays, you can stay until midnight and stay longer until 2 am on weekends.

Address: 24 Tong Tien Street, Hanoi

Ke Quan

Ms. Te is the familiar way to call the owner of Ke Quan. The specialty in this typical bar is a combination of local fruits and herbs.

Ke Quan has an impressive menu for drinks with over 20 kinds of fruit wines; from mulberry, mandarin, plum, mango, oranges, peaches, beeswax to exotic kinds like Buddha’s hand or cat apple.

Raw materials are collected from many owners, mainly in the North and processed for storage in a bottle for a long time. Ke Quan also serves Vietnamese dishes on the terrace where guests enjoy the food and contemplate the beautiful view of West Lake. Ke Quan opens from 8 am to 23h daily.

Address: 81B Xuan Dieu Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi

Mojito

In the evening, people can accidentally go through Mojito without notice. Mojito located in an old French house being renovated, decorated several times and still a bit old.

The customers mainly are foreigners working in Hanoi. They come on the weekends to look for the special cocktail of the capital. There are many drinks with strange names such as Phở, Sài Gòn, Xôi, Irish in Hanoi …

These cocktail cups were created by a talented barista (a.k.a the manager) Phan Tien Tiep. He won the Diago Reserve World Class in 2012 with his Phở cocktail.

Serving live music and DJ every weekend night from 21h makes Mojito often be crowed. If you want to have a nice seat you should go early. Mojito opens daily, from 16h to midnight.

Address: 19 Nguyen Quang Bich Street, Hanoi

+84

+84 comes from the romantic idea of ​​the gathering of drinkers. The owner of the restaurant said that this place offers enough private space for guests so people are quite comfortable and come back often.

Quan 2 storey, the upper floor almost separated from the rest. Inside the restaurant is a vintage style furniture, inspired by the work of Godfather, a charming balcony that you can enjoy sitting down to watch the pace of the street slowly below, the armchair long leather seats. Tí, cat of the shop.

The drinks menu of the bar also has its own characteristics, some imported from Sicily, Italy. Quan quan often have live music from 9 pm, if lucky, you also hear the singer singing the famous music of Trinh Cong Son. The restaurant is open from 9 am to 00:30 am daily, only the sixth is open at 7 pm.

Address: 23 Ngo Van So Street, Hanoi

Polite Pub

This is a familiar bar of foreigners in Hanoi. When entering the restaurant, you will hear the conversations from Vietnamese, English, Chinese, Japanese and French at the same time.

The design of the bar is based on the American style of the 1920s, which is a mix of interior, black and white decorations of films, frames of jazz music.

The Pub was originally a family-run business, opened in 1995, and is considered one of the oldest bars in Hanoi. However, the image of the restaurant is always changing and keep up with the needs of guests. A year ago, the restaurant was renovated with many innovations.

The restaurant’s menu was last changed a month ago, with interesting drinks names from famous ancient trade routes such as Silk Road, Incense Route, Incense Route or Road. Tea and horse.

The cocktail list is also exchanged every six months for more than 100 types. In addition, the restaurant regularly welcomes guests are bartender Vietnam and foreign. Open from 4 pm to midnight every day.

Address: 5B Bao Khanh Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

The Doors

Consumers often welcome a variety of guests from young to old, students, staff … to foreign visitors or retired musicians and singers.

The idea of ​​the innkeeper is to create a nightly meeting point for those who enjoy playing and enjoying rock music, western music. Drinks in the bar are affordable, but maybe because of the interesting space that sometimes guests do not pay too much attention.

Mr. Quang said, “This is the place where people listen to rock music.” He shared a time playing chess on the sidewalk and met a Korean man who entered the restaurant, looked around and found embarrassed because he could not communicate. “We can not talk because he does not speak both Vietnamese and English.” But as the music emerged as a bridge, the two did not need a common language to speak. That song was Yesterday of the Beatles.

]]>http://welcome2hanoi.com/2017/06/6-attracted-bars-hanoi/feed/0Australian female backpacker promote Hanoi on CNNhttp://welcome2hanoi.com/2017/05/australian-female-backpacker-promote-hanoi-cnn/
http://welcome2hanoi.com/2017/05/australian-female-backpacker-promote-hanoi-cnn/#respondTue, 30 May 2017 02:08:01 +0000http://welcome2hanoi.com/?p=1111After filming with CNN, the blogger did not hesitate to share her Hanoi travel experience with those who first come here. In January, Phoebe (Brisbane, Australia) arrived in Hanoi as a guest in a video to promote Hanoi on CNN. Here is her share of the trip on Little Gray Box – the blog where […]

]]>After filming with CNN, the blogger did not hesitate to share her Hanoi travel experience with those who first come here.

In January, Phoebe (Brisbane, Australia) arrived in Hanoi as a guest in a video to promote Hanoi on CNN. Here is her share of the trip on Little Gray Box – the blog where Phoebe and her boyfriend share about their experience when they travel.

Phoebe on the The Huc Bridge leading to Ngoc Son Temple

When it comes to some destinations with reasonable price, no one can ignore Vietnam with its indigenous people and good food. One of Phoebe’s favorite destinations is Hanoi, a bustling city with great history and architecture.

For the second time in Hanoi and in January, Phoebe really enjoys the cold air of winter in this city. You can have dinner outdoors in the restaurant when the weather is cold, wander around all day without sweating. Other ideal times are autumn from August to November and spring from March to April.

Before coming to Hanoi, travelers need to prepare visa, find the airport taxi service first to save time and avoid confusion about the currency value. In addition, you do not have to worry about looking for rooms because Hanoi has a lot of hotels to choose from.

There is no need to carry too many items in your luggage as people go out all day. Phoebe suggested that tourists bring fewer clothes, convenient clothing, especially in the summer. In the rainy season or cold season, umbrellas and a thin coat or shawl are useful items.

Hanoi by night

According to Phoebe, visitors to Hanoi spending time to walk around the old quarters, wandering the streets around Hoan Kiem Lake, visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam, or spending a day alone to visit Huong Pagoda or stay in Ha Long Bay. Guests can also try to buy and bargain in a local market or take courses in cooking Vietnamese dishes.

Hanoi also has a lot of food, you might do not have enough time to enjoy all. Suggested dishes include bread, bun cha, snake meat and some famous restaurants in Hanoi.

]]>http://welcome2hanoi.com/2017/05/australian-female-backpacker-promote-hanoi-cnn/feed/0It’s 4 a.m. in Hanoihttp://welcome2hanoi.com/2017/01/4-m-hanoi/
http://welcome2hanoi.com/2017/01/4-m-hanoi/#respondFri, 20 Jan 2017 08:08:23 +0000http://welcome2hanoi.com/?p=1088If you think Hanoi is now completely a modern city with noise and traffic jam, think again! The city itself still remains all the ancient and elegant beauty that is waiting for you to explore. Try waking up at 3:30 or 4 in the morning, and start a journey before the sunshine is bright. 1. […]

]]>If you think Hanoi is now completely a modern city with noise and traffic jam, think again! The city itself still remains all the ancient and elegant beauty that is waiting for you to explore. Try waking up at 3:30 or 4 in the morning, and start a journey before the sunshine is bright.

1. Quang Ba flowers market

Quang Ba flowers market

This flower market is located in Tay Ho District, about kilometers far from the Old Quarter and quite close to the West Lake. Here you can find all species of fresh flowers which are bought and sold by Hanoians, and going to the market by night to trade is a touch of culture, and an identity of people. You should try to go Quang Ba flower market at about 4 or 5 am if you are looking for something fresh to buy and the perfect time to take some pictures, because after that, all flowers are packed on bikes to be sold in all the street corner of Hanoi and there will be nothing left.

2. Long Bien fruit and vegetable wholesale market

This market locates next to Long Bien Bridge, is a fruit and vegetable wholesale market. Just like when you want to go to Quang Ba flower market, wake up late and you will see nothing. In the very early hours, about 1 to 6 a.m., all traders, stallholders from the local markets, restaurants and other businesses will visit to stock up for the day. So visit, walk around, find a spot to just watch all the fascinating exposure of a large proportion of Hanoi residents.

3. Walking around old quarter

It is said that it is not Hanoi without its Old Quarter. That’s right, although the streets present-day is a different version of the old chaos, when there are motorbikes, cars, cyclos and all together joining the traffic making it quite noisy and dangerous to come across the streets, the Old Quarter of Hanoi is completely different. There is no better time to visit than waking up at 4 and then start off a walking trip around these empty streets and narrow alleyways to really feel the heartbeat of Vietnam’s old and vibrant capital city.

4. Exercise with Hanoi people

While you are exploring corners of Hanoi Old Quarter, join the people in Hoan Kiem Lake or in the public parks doing morning exercises. Women are dancing, some man ride on bicycles, people playing badminton, aerobics, arms folding into Tai Chi are some typical activities that you can definitely find in Hanoi in early morning.

5. Enjoy street food

The sky is brighter, about 6 or 7 a.m., find yourself a place to have breakfast. Eat like the way Hanoians enjoy their morning: eating in the street, in tiny chairs with a crowd of hungry people. Pho, Banh Mi, Bun, Xoi … are some common terms when define what to eat in the morning Hanoi.

]]>http://welcome2hanoi.com/2017/01/4-m-hanoi/feed/0Christmas in Hanoihttp://welcome2hanoi.com/2016/12/christmas-in-hanoi/
http://welcome2hanoi.com/2016/12/christmas-in-hanoi/#respondThu, 15 Dec 2016 08:21:21 +0000http://welcome2hanoi.com/?p=977The idea of spending Christmas time in a tropical country like Vietnam seems to be weird, especially when you know that the number of Catholics in Vietnam is not significant. However, my spontaneous decision finally turns out into a surprising and delightful experience. Coming from Scotland, Christmas to me means freezing fog and snow, massive […]

]]>The idea of spending Christmas time in a tropical country like Vietnam seems to be weird, especially when you know that the number of Catholics in Vietnam is not significant. However, my spontaneous decision finally turns out into a surprising and delightful experience.

Coming from Scotland, Christmas to me means freezing fog and snow, massive sales season, decorating a Christmas tree, seeing beautiful displays of Christmas lights in shopping malls, buying presents and cards for other people, having a nice time with my parents and eating roasted turkey in cozy dining room. That is what I used to have in the past 20 years and I will never regret that I am in Hanoi this year. The way people celebrate Christmas is quite joyful in many ways.

Christmas is a foreign holiday in Vietnam. Many people here even do not know that it is Jesus’s birthday and that is how it got its name, but they still adopt the holiday on a certain level. I find the decorations and preparation for Christmas here quite interesting. Shops decorate their windows with Christmas motifs. Department stores set up their outdoor display with giant artificial snowmans, colourful gift boxes, plastic pine tree and sparkling Christmas tree ornaments. It is quite bizarre to see snow and snowman in a tropical climate. Winter in Hanoi is never cold enough to have snow. So, in attempt to duplicate the spirit of Christmas in Western country, people here create fake snow from a spay can or using cotton wool.

Rhyme of Christmas songs at loud volume are blared from speakers in front of electronic stores and department stores all over the city. Light displays in Hanoi are quite impressive. Lights are shaped into Santa Clause, reindeer, snow flake, meteor… and hang on trees and buildings, adding to the festive atmosphere at night.

I find little kids dressed up in Santa Clause costume or thin men driving motorbikes like a school of fish are the most amusing. Although it is a bit weird but they seem to be happy and get into the festive spirit.

Christmas in Hanoi is very different but I still have the joyful time. There is so much joy going on here so live it up and have a very Merry Christmas in Hanoi, everyone >:D<

]]>http://welcome2hanoi.com/2016/12/christmas-in-hanoi/feed/0The ancient features of Duong Lamhttp://welcome2hanoi.com/2016/10/ancient-features-duong-lam/
http://welcome2hanoi.com/2016/10/ancient-features-duong-lam/#respondThu, 13 Oct 2016 03:03:20 +0000http://welcome2hanoi.com/?p=1018Over the time, the old signs have been imprinted on each dormer, each road in the small village of Duong Lam. Duong Lam is an exciting destination not new to many visitors. This is one of the ancient Vietnamese villages remaining to this day. From Hanoi, you can travel by car or motorcycle in the […]

]]>Over the time, the old signs have been imprinted on each dormer, each road in the small village of Duong Lam.

Duong Lam is an exciting destination not new to many visitors. This is one of the ancient Vietnamese villages remaining to this day. From Hanoi, you can travel by car or motorcycle in the direction of Thang Long Avenue or road 32 to Nhon – Son Tay.

The central area of Duong Lam is Mong Phu communal house. This house, built in 1684, is the typical ancient building of the rural Tonkin. Covering an area of 1,800 m2, the house was built in the highest land in the village with the front facing west. In 1984, Mong Phu communal house was ranked as a historic national culture by the Ministry of Information – Culture (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism).

Here there are up to 956 ancient houses built from blocks of firm laterite. The architecture of these houses is the internal order, it means that the yards are lower than the road surface. So when it rains, water flows from outside into the yards and then to the sewers.

The small lanes in Duong Lam have always been attracting many tourists to enjoy. All roads here are dead ends to prevent thefts and they are very clean and clear. Besides, every family has a secret door and a shortcut to the communal house.

Guests coming here can rent a bicycle to visit the village. By this way, you will be able to move to more places like Ngo Quyen Tomb, Phung Hung Tomb… without losing too much energy.

When ending the journey of discovery, you can stay at a restaurant opened in the campus of an old house.

Among many vicissitudes of life, you can spend a day off to return to this place. Discover the small corners which seem to be already forgotten…

… or immerse yourself in laughter, the innocence of young children in Duong Lam. You will rediscover your equilibrium.

]]>http://welcome2hanoi.com/2016/10/ancient-features-duong-lam/feed/0Three reasons to visit Hanoi in autumnhttp://welcome2hanoi.com/2016/09/three-reasons-visit-hanoi-autumn/
http://welcome2hanoi.com/2016/09/three-reasons-visit-hanoi-autumn/#respondWed, 28 Sep 2016 07:46:34 +0000http://welcome2hanoi.com/?p=1001If you ask what the best time to visit Hanoi, the answer will certainly be in Autumn. Why? Let’s find out reasons that why you should come and enjoy the city during the autumn with us. 1. The ease in Hanoi atmosphere Stands still as a millennium capital, Hanoi is the cultural center of Vietnam. […]

]]>If you ask what the best time to visit Hanoi, the answer will certainly be in Autumn. Why? Let’s find out reasons that why you should come and enjoy the city during the autumn with us.

1. The ease in Hanoi atmosphere

Stands still as a millennium capital, Hanoi is the cultural center of Vietnam. For this reason, Hanoi becomes one of the busiest cities. If you have searched information about Hanoi before, you would find the messy flow of transportation happening on main ways. However, the rhythm of life seems to be getting slower, deeper and smoother during fall. The reason for that is when the fall comes, Hanoi people tend to be quieter to watch the transforms between two seasons. The feelings made them as experienced person.

2. Poetic beauties through the old architects

In Autumn, Hanoi enchants people because its beauty weaves on every corner of Old Quarter and reflects on ups and downs of Hanoi. They are the reasons why Hanoi became topics of many poetries and songs.

The “old” Hanoi consisted of 36 streets but now the number is extended to 50. The way people named those streets are fascinating following the main product on that street in the 13th century. Nowadays, some streets still sticks to its products that handed down from the ancestor as: Hang Gai (silk), Hang Bac (silver), …

Together with Old Quarter, many other heritages are still there despite the destruction of time and war.

Flag tower in Vietnam military museum in autumn.

3. Romantic places

Imagine that you and your partners take a walk along roads covered by autumn yellow leaves or sit next to the other on the bank of West Lake in the sunset. It will bring to you an unique experience that you can never have anywhere else.